Iraq Study Group Weighs Overture to Iran and Syria — A draft report on strategies for Iraq, which will be debated here by a bipartisan commission beginning Monday, urges an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative that includes direct talks with Iran and Syria but sets no timetables …

A tale of two Norah's — via The Chris Matthews Show. First, Norah tells us that even though the country validated the Democrats with the November elections—get this—they still wind up looking weak on national security if they want us to leave Iraq within 4-6 months. georgia10 debunks this nonsense.

No — Look, people who advocate adding "personal accounts" to Social Security are just stupid people. Really, just morons. There's no reason to do it. There's no reason to take any part of Social Security contributions and put them in a little fund account with my name on it.

Social Security Reform — The Economist hopes for a grand bargain on Social Security reform: … Back in 1998, 1999, and 2000 there was a deal to be struck: bring the existing Social Security system back into balance with a combination of (small) tax increases and (moderate) future benefit cuts …

Do we need another T.R.? — If John McCain gets his way, you'll have your faith in the country restored ... or else! — YOU CAN READ 1,000 profiles of GOP presidential front-runner John McCain without encountering a single paragraph examining his core ideological philosophy.

GEORGE AIKEN WITHOUT THE INTELLECTUAL FLAIR — Senator George Aiken once said we should leave Vietnam and declare victory. Lacking Aiken's audacity, Senator Chuck Hagel urges that we leave Iraq and declare a draw. — Hagel may not be the biggest fool in the Senate …

Sword of the Shia — He can deal out death through his black-clad followers and roil the government any time he chooses. Why Moqtada al-Sadr may end up deciding America's fate in Iraq. — Wathiq Khuzaie / Getty Images for Newsweek — Underestimated No More: Educated Shiites once dismissed …

Quartet of ladies shows where we're headed — Have you seen a movie called ''Four Jills In A Jeep''? Don't worry, it's not at the multiplex. It came out in 1944. A wartime movie, about the contribution of the gals to the big existential struggle. Great title, and downhill after that.

Obama talks with top advisers in Iowa — The Illinois senator gets filled in on the caucus leadoff state as he weighs a 2008 presidential bid. — Democrat Barack Obama has sought the advice of top campaign workers in Iowa and has established a seedling support network in this state …

Bookcase 'trap' killed US woman — The body of a missing US woman has been found by her family, wedged upside down behind a bookcase in her room. — Mariesa Weber, 38, is believed to have fallen over and become trapped as she tried to reach behind the bookcase to adjust the plug for a TV set.

Blinded by the St. McCain/Holy Joe War — I haven't heard much from the "good news in Iraq" Stepford Republicans lately-have you? There's nothing too civil about this war: — KATHLEEN KOCH: Michael, the Iraqi government and the U.S. military in Baghdad keep saying this is not a civil war.

MTP Transcript for Nov. 25 — MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: One year ago the Republican governor of California had an approval rating of just 32 percent. His disapproval: sky-high at 58 percent. And yet, two weeks ago, in the midst of a national Democratic landslide, he was overwhelmingly re-elected.

In New Congress, Pork May Linger — Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii are the best of friends in the Senate, so close they call each other brother. Both are decorated veterans of World War II. They have worked together for nearly four decades as senators from the two youngest and farthest-flung states.

To be scorned and shunned — Michael Totten trembles as the New York Times threatens to unload its ultimate weapon. Trembles in laughter, most probably. The NYT warned Syria that it would pay a price for its aggression. And what a price. … But it is Russell Berman who points …

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